11:1 [Direxit opera eorum in manibus prophetae sancti.
*H She prospered their works in the hands of the holy prophet.
Ver. 1. Prophet. Moses, (Ch.) by whose ministry the Hebrews were delivered, (H.) and governed with the utmost prudence. Num. xii. 26. C.
* Footnote
* Exodus
16 : 1
And they set forward from Elim, and all the multitude of the children of Israel came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai: the fifteenth day of the second month, after they came out of the land of Egypt.
11:2 Iter fecerunt per deserta quae non habitabantur, et in locis desertis fixerunt casas.
They went through wildernesses that were not inhabited, and in desert places they pitched their tents.
11:3 Steterunt contra hostes, et de inimicis se vindicaverunt.
*H They stood against their enemies, and revenged themselves of their adversaries.
Ver. 3. Their enemies. The Amalecites, (Ch.) and all others, who durst attack Moses. Deut. iii. 1.
* Footnote
* Exodus
17 : 12
And Moses's hands were heavy: so they took a stone, and put under him, and he sat on it: and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands on both sides. And it came to pass, that his hands were not weary until sunset.
11:4 Sitierunt, et invocaverunt te, et data est illis aqua de petra altissima, et requies sitis de lapide duro.]
They were thirsty, and they called upon thee, and water was given them out of the high rock, and a refreshment of their thirst out of the hard stone.
* Footnote
* Numbers
20 : 11
And when Moses bad lifted up his hand, and struck the rock twice with the rod, there came forth water in great abundance, so that the people and their cattle drank,
11:5 [Per quae enim poenas passi sunt inimici illorum a defectione potus sui, et in eis cum abundarent filii Israel laetati sunt :
*H For by what things their enemies were punished, when their drink failed them, while the children of Israel abounded therewith, and rejoiced:
Ver. 5. By what things, &c. The meaning is, that God, who wrought a miracle to punish the Egyptians by thirst, when he turned all their waters into blood, (at which time the Israelites, who were exempt from those plagues, had plenty of water) wrought another miracle in favour of his own people in their thirst, by giving them water out of the rock. Ch. — The Egyptians were thus tormented with thirst, though so near the Nile; and the Hebrews were refreshed in a barren desert. Ex. vii. 20.
11:6 per haec, cum illis deessent, bene cum illis actum est.
By the same things they in their need were benefited.
11:7 Nam pro fonte quidem sempiterni fluminis, humanum sanguinem dedisti injustis.
*H For instead of a fountain of an ever running river, thou gavest human blood to the unjust.
Ver. 7. River. The Nile, to which the Egyptians gave divine honours. C. — Thou. Sept. "disturbed with corrupted blood, in punishment of the infanticide decree, thou gavest," &c.
11:8 Qui cum minuerentur in traductione infantium occisorum, dedisti illis abundantem aquam insperate,
And whilst they were diminished for a manifest reproof of their murdering the infants, thou gavest to thine abundant water unlooked for:
11:9 ostendens per sitim quae tunc fuit, quemadmodum tuos exaltares, et adversarios illorum necares.
Shewing by the thirst that was then, how thou didst exalt thine, and didst kill their adversaries.
11:10 Cum enim tentati sunt, et quidem cum misericordia disciplinam accipientes, scierunt quemadmodum cum ira judicati impii tormenta paterentur.
For when they were tried, and chastised with mercy, they knew how the wicked were judged with wrath, and tormented.
11:11 Hos quidem tamquam pater monens probasti ; illos autem tamquam durus rex interrogans condemnasti.
For thou didst admonish and try them as a father: but the others, as a severe king, thou didst examine and condemn.
11:12 Absentes enim, et praesentes, similiter torquebantur.
For whether absent or present, they were tormented alike.
11:13 Duplex enim illos acceperat taedium et gemitus, cum memoria praeteritorum.
For a double affliction came upon them, and a groaning for the remembrance of things past.
11:14 Cum enim audirent per sua tormenta bene secum agi, commemorati sunt Dominum, admirantes in finem exitus.
*H For when they heard that by their punishments the others were benefited, they remembered the Lord, wondering at the end of what was come to pass.
Ver. 14. By their punishments, &c. That is, that the Israelites had been benefited and miraculously favoured in the same kind, in which they had been punished. Ch. — Benefited. After war, peace is more agreeable. W.
11:15 Quem enim in expositione prava projectum deriserunt, in finem eventus mirati sunt, non similiter justis sitientes.
For whom they scorned before, when he was thrown out at the time of his being wickedly exposed to perish, him they admired in the end, when they saw the event: their thirsting being unlike to that of the just.
11:16 Pro cogitationibus autem insensatis iniquitatis illorum, quod quidam errantes colebant mutos serpentes et bestias supervacuas, immisisti illis multitudinem mutorum animalium in vindictam ;
*H But for the foolish devices of their iniquity, because some being deceived worshipped dumb serpents and worthless beasts, thou didst send upon them a multitude of dumb beasts for vengeance:
Ver. 16. Serpents. The Egyptians adored asps, and fed them at their tables, without receiving any harm. Ælian. Hist. xvii. 5. — Dumb beasts. Viz. frogs, sciniphs, flies, and locusts. Ch.
11:17 ut scirent quia per quae peccat quis, per haec et torquetur.
That they might know that by what things a man sinneth, by the same also he is tormented.
11:18 Non enim impossibilis erat omnipotens manus tua, quae creavit orbem terrarum ex materia invisa, immittere illis multitudinem ursorum, aut audaces leones,
For thy almighty hand, which made the world of matter without form, was not unable to send upon them a multitude of bears, or fierce lions,
11:19 aut novi generis ira plenas ignotas bestias, aut vaporem ignium spirantes, aut fumi odorem proferentes, aut horrendas ab oculis scintillas emittentes ;
Or unknown beasts of a new kind, full of rage; either breathing out a fiery vapour, or sending forth a stinking smoke, or shooting horrible sparks out of their eyes:
* Footnote
* Leviticus
26 : 22
And I will send in upon you the beasts of the field, to destroy you and your cattle, and make you few in number: and that your highways may be desolate.
* Footnote
* Jeremias
8 : 17
For behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord.
11:20 quarum non solum laesura poterat illos exterminare, sed et aspectus per timorem occidere.
Whereof not only the hurt might be able to destroy them, but also the very sight might kill them through fear.
11:21 Sed et sine his uno spiritu poterant occidi, persecutionem passi ab ipsis factis suis, et dispersi per spiritum virtutis tuae : sed omnia in mensura, et numero et pondere disposuisti.
Yea, and without these, they might have been slain with one blast, persecuted by their own deeds, and scattered by the breath of thy power: but thou hast ordered all things in measure, and number, and weight.
11:22 Multum enim valere, tibi soli supererat semper : et virtuti brachii tui quis resistet ?
For great power always belonged to thee alone: and who shall resist the strength of thy arm?
11:23 Quoniam tamquam momentum staterae, sic est ante te orbis terrarum, et tamquam gutta roris antelucani quae descendit in terram.
For the whole world before thee is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falleth down upon tho earth.
11:24 Sed misereris omnium, quia omnia potes ; et dissimulas peccata hominum, propter poenitentiam.
*H But thou hast mercy upon all, because thou canst do all things, and overlookest the sins of men for the sake of repentance.
Ver. 24. Repentance. If people neglect to reform their conduct in this world, they must expect to be treated with all severity in the other.
11:25 Diligis enim omnia quae sunt, et nihil odisti eorum quae fecisti ; nec enim odiens aliquid constituisti aut fecisti.
*H For thou lovest all things that are, and hatest none of the things which thou hast made: for thou didst not appoint, or make any thing hating it.
Ver. 25. It. Sin and disorder is the work of man, deserving hatred. C. — God created nothing evil, nor is there any but one God, as the Manichees pretended. W.
11:26 Quomodo autem posset aliquid permanere, nisi tu voluisses ? aut quod a te vocatum non esset conservaretur ?
*H And how could any thing endure, if thou wouldst not? or be preserved, if not called by thee?
Ver. 26. Called. Into existence, or into its proper place. Rom. iv. 17.
11:27 Parcis autem omnibus, quoniam tua sunt, Domine, qui amas animas.]
*H But thou sparest all: because they are thine, O Lord, who lovest souls.
Ver. 27. All. Awaiting their amendment, and unwilling to destroy thy creatures. C. xii. 10. Hence thou didst not exterminate the Egyptians at once. C.